Canopus ADVC-100 Capture Problems

[neo]

After reading the rave reviews here about the Canopus ADVC-100 I bought one to capture my satellite S-Video signal. It does not come with any software. I plugged it in and XP recognized it as a digital camera or VCR.

Someone suggested using WinDV (free) to capture. It was working but now when I try it just says error and I cannot capture.

Any ideas on what might be wrong?

Thanks much.

[alenhard]

is there any other info you can provide? still a little vague as to what the actual problem is. how do you know the problem isn't software-related?

[Vizcaya]

I use Ulead video studio 7 , t capture, and the AVDC100 works like a champ. I haven't tried the program you are using.

Viz

[Redd]

You didn't skimp when you bought the Canopus ADVC-100, yet your trying to use free software to capture from a piece of sophisticated hardware.

Maybe reliable capturing/editing software is in order?


Magic rule of life 101: You get what you pay for.

[NightWing]

Check the Canopus forum that Canopus setup. There are some problems with XP, SP1 and ADVC-100.

[gizmofanv]

Anyone with experience, what is capture (frame) size for dvd from analog source. How is the final DVD quality?

Thanks!

[neo]

It is not the software. There are big problems with the Canopus ADVC -100. Check out this Canopus Forum thread:

http://forum.canopus.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=GenADVC&Number=29625&page=0&view=coll...=&fpart=1&vc=1

[alenhard]

You've confused two different products. The ADVC-100 is very different from the ADVC-1394. And as you'll note on the thread, the problem is not as widespread as you suggest it is. Check out the top rated capturing devices and you'll see an incredible overall rating of all Canopus products.

Don't jump the gun here. You still haven't even explained what error you keep getting.

[neo]

I do not think I am jumping the gun. As far as I can tell this same problem started for the PCI card, the 50, and the 100 for 2000 and XP around the time Direct X 9 was installed. The thread is 5 pages long and my problems are about the same. XP recognises the device but the software does not.

I would love to solve the problem as I bought the device based on the rave reviews here. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[painkiller]

While you don't go so far to say - once the power is switched on (back of box) you should get two blue lights.
You should have the input cables feeding the fron of the box.
You probably do, but just making sure.
If this is the case, press the silver switch on top of the box to select the input (front connections).

Does this fix anything for you?

[stephen]

neo, have you tried any other capture programs. I would either download a trial of Ulead Video Studio (or something equivalent), or (cheaper option) try using Windows Movie Maker. I also use the ADVC-100 with XP.

I'd be interested to see if either of those programs work for you.

[NightWing]

Just wondering on this...

Have a question on user with problems. Go to your net settings and how is the 1394 listed? Is it connected in a bridge setup or seperate? Do you have both a wire and wireless net connection?

Though it was very strange to allow the Firwire to be included in the "network" area under XP. They dont include USB so why include Firewire/1394?

Do you have problems under W2k?

[neo]

None of the cables or DIP switches have changed. I checked them. When I turn it on the lights are normal and the box comes up saying it is a DV camccorder/VCR and asks what program I want to use it with. When I try to use it with a program, the programs either say error or they do not see any valid video device.

While you don't go so far to say - once the power is switched on (back of box) you should get two blue lights.
You should have the input cables feeding the fron of the box.
You probably do, but just making sure.
If this is the case, press the silver switch on top of the box to select the input (front connections).

Does this fix anything for you?

[neo]

I do not think the 1394 controller is the problem. It was working fine before and in Device Manager the Canopus is listed as an AVC Compliant DV Tape Recorder/Player under Imaging Devices.

I do not have W2K but if you read the Canopus thread people with W2K and DirectX 9 have the same problems.

Thanks to everyone for their help!

Just wondering on this...

Have a question on user with problems. Go to your net settings and how is the 1394 listed? Is it connected in a bridge setup or seperate? Do you have both a wire and wireless net connection?

Do you have problems under W2k?

[neo]

When I first got the Canopus 100 it worked with all programs including WMM. Now it works with none. If you look at the Canopus thread it contains all of the information on the problem. People have used quite a few programs including Ulead. One person sent theirs back, was sent another and they still have the problem.

I am wondering if I need some codec for the device. It seems that I recall something about MS changing so that a device needs the MS Media codec but they will not release it. I also seem to remember something about an old manual Panasonic codec. I suspect that because the 100 disables Macrovision that MS did something to prevent it from working.

I wonder if I had a codec on my machine that either I removed or this was done by one of the XP patches since MS seems more interested in supporting the recording industry than their customers.

Thanks again for all of the help. It appears that XP recognises and installs the device but none of the software programs recognise it.

neo, have you tried any other capture programs. I would either download a trial of Ulead Video Studio (or something equivalent), or (cheaper option) try using Windows Movie Maker. I also use the ADVC-100 with XP.

I'd be interested to see if either of those programs work for you.

[neo]

I understand that there are different codecs required. I do not know what a codec is but is it possible that a codec must be installed for the Canopus ADVC-100 to work?

Thanks

[alenhard]

I'm running XP with all the updates/service packs, DirectX drivers, etc. and the ADVC-100 works perfectly every time for me (just so you know). It probably is something with your computer or the unit itself- obviously not a universal problem. It is possible that you got a defective unit, so you should contact Canopus support. From what I hear they do an excellent job. As far as codecs, I am not aware of any that you need.

Take it to a friend's house and see if it works on his computer. Try to narrow down the problem. It used to work; you fiddled with your computer's settings and now it doesn't work...what changes did you make in between the time it worked to the time it stopped working? Does your firewire card need to be checked as well? Borrow a mini dv camcorder and see if you can capture something from it through your firewire port with the same software that used to work with the ADVC. Step by step you should get a lot closer...good luck!

[neo]

I appreciate the advice. I just installed Ulead VideoStudio 6. When I turn on the Canopus 100 I get an XP popup window that askes if I want to use it with UVS. I select it. When I start UVS and select Capture it says "Either no video capture driver is installed in this system or no device is connected.

If I go into XP Device Manager it is listed as a working AVC Compliant DV Tape Recorder/Player that is working with installed drivers.

I have been exploring XP Services. Would any of these be causing a problem?

The only other thing I can think of is that the device has failed in which case I need to send it back. From what I have read on Canopus' Support Forums they do not respond to their email form and they take at least 20 minutes to answer their non toll free #.

Not a happy customer.

[alenhard]

Okay. But you have not emailed or called them, right? You are just going off what others have said.

Did you troubleshoot the firewire port itself? Have you tried your device on another computer?

Have you tried different combinations of accessing the capture utility? Start UVS first and then turn on the ADVC unit. Ignore the whole windows popup stuff. See if you can change the order of operations.(BTW- I wouldn't recommend capturing with Videostudio anyway. Go to the tools section to the left and download DVIO- it's freeware and it does a great job).

Again, can you capture with anything on your system? If you can capture from something else, say a digital camcorder through your firewire port (not through the ADVC obviously), then yes, maybe you have a defective unit.

[Tommyknocker]

I do know if you launch VS6 without the unit attached, VS6 will not recognize after you connect it. Anyway, have you tried to connect the unit, launch VS6, and when the program is ready, select Settings and Commands icon-->Change capure plug in and see if the DV driver is available.

[neo]

I have emailed them with no response. I called them and it was busy.

I do not have access to another computer to test it. Why would Windows recognise it and install drivers for it if the firewire port was bad? My external hard drive works fine off the same port.

I have tried all sequences of start up. I do not believe it is the software because it worked with all of the software before. I do not have any other firewire capture device to test.

I thank everyone for their ideas but if Canopus will not answer their emails or their phone then I cannot even return it for repair/replace. The one person on the Canopus forum that was able to return it had the same problems with the new unit.

I am just out of ideas. Is there another comparable unit that works with DVI so I can input S Video and write with DivX onto a DVD for personal use?

[neo]

Hi, would it be possible to post which service packs you have installed? I get the impression that MS is supporting the recording industry rather than their customers and may have added an update that would prevent the Canopus 100 from working.

I'm running XP with all the updates/service packs, DirectX drivers, etc. and the ADVC-100 works perfectly every time for me (just so you know). It probably is something with your computer or the unit itself- obviously not a universal problem. It is possible that you got a defective unit, so you should contact Canopus support. From what I hear they do an excellent job. As far as codecs, I am not aware of any that you need.

[alenhard]

SP1 and 18 "hotfixes" (15 of those are SP2). I don't do anything out of the ordinary- when Windows does the automatic updates I just accept them.

[stephen]

When I first got the Canopus 100 it worked with all programs including WMM. Now it works with none.

neo, have you tried any other capture programs. I would either download a trial of Ulead Video Studio (or something equivalent), or (cheaper option) try using Windows Movie Maker. I also use the ADVC-100 with XP.

I'd be interested to see if either of those programs work for you.

None of the cables or DIP switches have changed. I checked them. When I turn it on the lights are normal and the box comes up saying it is a DV camccorder/VCR and asks what program I want to use it with. When I try to use it with a program, the programs either say error or they do not see any valid video device

neo, two separate questions:
1. You're saying it worked when you first got it? Do you know the specific point at which it stopped working? Was it right after you installed service pack 1, or at some other point? If it was after service pack 1, maybe you should try a fresh install of Windows. That would tell you if it's an update that's causing the problem.
2. Since you didn't change the DIP switches, it should still default to digital input. What source are you capturing from? If you're capturing via the RCA ports, do you set it to analog input before you try to capture?

[neo]

Hi Stephen

I hope I got all the quotes straight. To answer your questions first:
1. I bought my new computer in March as well as the 100. I believe XP Prof. came with SP1. I do not recall exactly when it stopped working I was ill with an injury and so could not use the computer. When I went to use it again it was no longer working after installing some service packs and other stuff. Windows recognised it as an ADV Compliant AV Tape Recorder/ Player. It was working and drivers were installed. When I tried to use my programs including ULead they did not see any capture device and said to either connect one or install the drivers.
2. I am sorry I was not clear. I set the DIP switches correctly when I received it. I meant that they had not changed from my settings.

Last and most important is that I finally got in touch with Canopus on the phone. They sent me a reference to a MS patch (which I had already installed) and a patch program. It still did not work. I called again. They checked my serial # and it was in a group of devices with a bad flash.

I am returning it tomorrow so they can flash the memory. It will probably take about two weeks to get it back. Hopefully that will fix the problem. If not, I will re-post.

When I do get it back I may ask for some help. I was almost at the point to burn my first DVD. My plan is to capture the video from my satellite, do some touch up editing in DVI, and then compress it to DivX & mp3 with no quality loss in the smallest space. This is for my personal use and just fun.

Thank you so much for your time and interest. I really appreciate your help.


[quote="stephen
neo, two separate questions:
1. You're saying it worked when you first got it? Do you know the specific point at which it stopped working? Was it right after you installed service pack 1, or at some other point? If it was after service pack 1, maybe you should try a fresh install of Windows. That would tell you if it's an update that's causing the problem.
2. Since you didn't change the DIP switches, it should still default to digital input. What source are you capturing from? If you're capturing via the RCA ports, do you set it to analog input before you try to capture?[/quote]

[mtgoat]

Just in case you haven't tried it already, try unplugging the device, allow windows to detect that hardware was removed, then re-connect. Something similar happened with my ADVC-50, and that was the fix.
BTW... I'm also running XP SP-1.
Good luck!

[ironwood321]

Hi,
I encountered a similar problem setting up an ADVC 50 on a brand new system I constructed with all the updates and service pack installed etc.

Basically the device showed up as a valid and connected AV Capture device but I could not capture or preview views and I received and error relating to DirectX preview when trying to capture form say Video studio or Vidicap.

I also notice that there was a time code but no video.

I applied the following to the registry and rebooted and this seems to have fixed it and I could capture.

REGEDIT4

;----------------------------
; Avifile für Flask

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile]
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,01,00
@="Video Clip"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\RIFFHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\RIFFHandlers\AVI]
@="{00020000-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\RIFFHandlers\WAVE]
@="{00020003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Extensions]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Extensions\AVI]
@="{00020000-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Extensions\WAV]
@="{00020003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Extensions\AU]
@="{00020003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Compressors]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Compressors\vids]
@="{00020001-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Compressors\auds]
@="{0002000F-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\DefaultIcon]
@="quartz.dll,-100"
"MPlayer2.BAK"="quartz.dll,-100"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shell]
@="open"
"MPlayer2.BAK"="Play"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shell\open]
@="&Open"
"MPlayer2.BAK"="Open"

;[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shell\open\command]
;@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Windows Media Player\\mplayer2.exe\" /Play \"%L\""
;"MPlayer2.BAK"="rundll32.exe amovie.ocx,RunDll /open %1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shell\play]
@="&Play"
"MPlayer2.BAK"="Play"

;[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shell\play\command]
;@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Windows Media Player\\mplayer2.exe\" /Play \"%L\""
;"MPlayer2.BAK"="rundll32.exe amovie.ocx,RunDll /play /close %1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\protocol]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\protocol\StdExecute]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\protocol\StdExecute\Serv er]
@="mplayer.exe /avi"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\protocol\StdFileEditing]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\protocol\StdFileEditing\ PackageObjects]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\protocol\StdFileEditing\ Server]
@="mplayer.exe /avi"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\protocol\StdFileEditing\ verb]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\protocol\StdFileEditing\ verb\0]
@="&Play"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\protocol\StdFileEditing\ verb\1]
@="&Edit"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\protocol\StdFileEditing\ verb\2]
@="&Open"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\Insertable]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\CLSID]
@="{00022602-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shellex\PropertySheetHan dlers]
@="AviPage"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\shellex\PropertySheetHan dlers\AviPage]
@="{00022613-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AVIFile\EditFlags]
@="_H_00010000"

[neo]

I received my Canopus ADVC-100 back from Canopus. They said everything checked out fine with it but they re-flashed the memory and sent it back. It still acts the same. It is recognized as an AVC Compliant DV Tape Recorder/Player and installed by XP but none of my programs recognize any capture device.

I asked them what was wrong and they said they did not know and were waiting for Microsoft to fix it.

Since it is not a Tape Recorder/Player it seems that they should supply a working driver with it just like the camcorder companies do. Right now it is a $300 paperweight.

[Bondiablo]

If the problem is related to Directx, despite what Microsoft says, it is possible to go back to a previous version of Directx. Do a search for uninstall directx, download the last version of Directx 8 and install that.

[neo]

After talking with Canopus they said to return the unit a second time for replacement. I received a unit with a newer serial number and it is now working fine again.

It is strange because before it was recognized as a tape recorder/player and now as a camcorder/tape recorder. The problem was with the old unit even though their testing said it was fine.

Now I need to continue to look at software.

neo